Groomed for Love

by Helen R. Myers

  “You didn’t want to come back here, did you?”

  Noah’s expression exposed his struggle. “It’s home. It always will be, but this was my parents’ passion. I thought I would create my success in a different direction.”

  No wonder he’d seemed bitter and like a caged animal when she first met him—edgy, restless and resentful, despite his love for his mother. And here she thought she’d just set off something negative inside him. Rylie touched his arm. “Can’t you do both?”

  He took her hand and raised it to his lips. “I’m beginning to feel that I want to.”

  Reassured, they walked on. The dogs enjoyed themselves, playing well together, until it was clear that Bubbles had exerted herself trying to keep up with MG. “We’d better head back,” Rylie told Noah. “I have to be heading home anyway. There are still chores to do and tomorrow will come soon enough.”

  “But it’ll be Sunday.”

  “Your people here work on Sunday to some degree or other—feeding, cleaning stables or whatever. Besides, Gage presented me with my own key today. I’m definitely going to buy him a sleep-in morning and tend to the chores in the kennel and stables myself. Barring an emergency call, it’ll get him most of the day off. It’s the least I can do after all of his support, as well as his and Brooke’s kindness to me.”

  “Want some company?”

  Rylie couldn’t believe he’d actually offered. “Seriously?”

  Once again, he reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers. “At some point you’re going to believe me when I tell you that I want to spend time with you. We both have demanding jobs and hectic schedules. Is an hour for dinner here and there enough for you?” His gaze grew intent. “It isn’t for me.”

  “Not me, either.” Despite the admission, she continued to look dubious. “You’re sure? Vet work is physical and messy.”

  “I grew up on the estate, remember? Dad made sure I spent evenings and summers working side by side with the hands. What’s more, I understand that animals are a part of your life and always will be, so warning me off is a waste of energy.”

  Finally convinced, Rylie teased, “Okay...only please don’t come dressed in designer jeans and Italian loafers, or I’ll think you forgot everything you ever learned.”

  “Come here and apologize,” he growled, drawing her into his arms.

  She did, repeatedly, and it was several minutes before they caught up with the dogs, who by then were napping at the patio’s French doors.

  * * *

  The next morning when Rylie unlocked the back door of the clinic at minutes after seven o’clock, she felt as though she’d had one mug of caffeine too many, she felt so jittery with excitement. It wasn’t only that Noah was coming back this morning, but before he’d left her last night, he’d kissed her again.

  “To get me through the long, lonely night,” he’d told her.

  He’d taught her that there was a world of difference between kissing a boy or a man with a one-track mind, and a man who saw it as important to please as to be pleasured. It amazed her that she’d been able to sleep at all; her body had been left humming with awareness and need.

  She’d barely started working on the animals inside when she heard him pull up in back and park by her RV. There was no repressing her smile of joy as she went outside to greet him. Then it widened as she took in the well-worn jeans and boots he wore with a jeans jacket over a simple white T-shirt for the cooler weather.

  “What did you have to pay Ramon for the clothes?” she asked, her tone wicked, as he leaned over to pet MG, who ran to him in welcome. Her own jeans were stuffed into knee-high rubber boots for hosing down the kennels and mucking stalls, and her black T-shirt bore the UC Davis emblem for the veterinary school out of San Diego, which she wore under a navy blue windbreaker.

  “In rare form, I see.” His own narrow-eyed gaze roamed over her with a mixture of pleasure and possessiveness. “How can you be all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when I didn’t sleep after I left you last night?”

  “I’m younger, more resilient.” After his bark of laughter, she nodded inside. “There’s coffee.”

  “You’re an angel.” But when she led the way, he stopped her a step beyond the door and drew her against him. “That’s it? That’s my welcome?”

  “You’re right,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Good morning. I’m so happy you came.”

  His arms became tight bands around her, and his bold kiss told her that his appetite wasn’t just for coffee. “Better,” he said against her lips. “If I could look forward to this every morning, I wouldn’t need as much caffeine.”

  “My, you are turning leaf over leaf,” Rylie purred. But needing to slow things down before she lost her head, she asked, “How’s everyone at the house? Did you leave before your mother was up?”

  “No, she was already downstairs having coffee with Aubergine and Livie at the kitchen table.”

  “Aubergine...now there’s a romantic and dramatic name.”

  With an affirmative murmur, Noah pressed a kiss on her forehead, and went to get the coffee. “She has a sister named Sapphire pronounced the French way, Sa-feer. She lives in New Orleans.”

  “I’ll bet those two have some stories between them.”

  “They must well have. Aubergine recently mentioned her only once and fleetingly, after she’d finished a tiny glass of absinthe on what was her sixtieth birthday. The bottle and dainty glass had come from New Orleans the day before. I haven’t seen either since. Knowing Aubergine as I do, she’s likely buried everything in the vegetable garden somewhere in the hopes of gaining points with God or seducing the garden fairies.”

  “Ah...absinthe...” His droll humor triggered some memory about the liqueur. No, she amended, remembering sugar wasn’t added, meaning that technically it was a spirit. A very strong spirit. “I’ve heard of it. It experienced some resurgence a few years ago, and some of the kids in school were talking about trying it. Wasn’t it once banned in France and said to be a hallucinogen?”

  With a slight shrug, Noah replied, “As potent as it smells and tastes, it could well have been. Fortunately, I tend to be a boring stick-in-the-mud when it comes to my alcohol preferences. No testimony on truth in advertising.”

  “Was the family surprised when you told them where you were going this morning?”

  His expression turned wry. “I now have a keen understand of the expression ‘deafening silence.’ I’m sure hilarious laughter followed as soon as they heard the front door close behind me.”

  “I’ll bet you’re wrong.”

  After giving her one of his intimate looks, Noah gestured with his mug. “What can I do?”

  “I’ll be easy on you to start, but finish your coffee first. Then get a leash—” she pointed to the dozen or so hanging by the door next to the coat rack “—and take Dumpling for a walk in the pasture out back. He’s one of our two larger boarded dogs, in the other building between here and the stables. I’ll deal with Pacino as soon as I’m done tending to the smaller animals in here.”

  Noah frowned. “Start me off easy? You don’t think I can handle both of them?”

  Rylie gave him a sympathetic look. “Pacino is blind, like the character Al Pacino plays in Scent of a Woman. His owner is a police-dog handler who rescued him from being put down after he was injured in the line of duty, and she’s at a seminar out of state until tomorrow. It’s taken me since day one to earn his trust. I don’t want you to suddenly find yourself on your back with a hundred pounds of German shepherd standing on your chest just because you said the wrong thing.”

  “Dumpling it is,” Noah replied, holding up his free hand in surrender. Then he asked, “What breed is he?”

  “A sheepdog. He’s a big sweetie.”

  “Thank goodness Ramon isn’t
here to witness me cooing, ‘C’mon, Dumpling,’” Noah muttered.

  “Oh, believe me,” Rylie replied, “that’s the least embarrassing thing that’s apt to happen to you when working at an animal clinic.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Take that picture and I won’t be responsible for my actions.”

  Although Rylie couldn’t help but laugh at Noah’s expression as he sat in the middle of the spilled contents of the wheelbarrow, she was only teasing about recording the moment for posterity on her iPhone, and tucked it back into her jacket pocket. Then she shut the stable door before the chestnut mare decided to add injury to insult.

  “I was only kidding, but I did warn you to watch Lady B’s head. Now you know what the B really stands for besides Barbra from Bentwood Farms. Be glad she’s a head butter and isn’t inclined to kick.” Of course, Rylie would never have sent Noah in there if the horse had been mean rather than mischievous.

  The mare with the attitude had been there a week, and was another animal going home tomorrow when her owners returned from a trip to a family wedding out of state. While Rylie had cleaned the messier pens in the cow barn, Noah had done Lady B’s and had just put her back into her stall, only to be knocked back out the moment he let down his guard.

  “Are you okay?” Rylie asked, with sincere sympathy.

  “The body is intact, but I think my pride is terminal. Thanks for talking me into putting my keys and wallet in your RV. I’d hate to have to dig them out of this stuff.”

  Extending her gloved hand, Rylie said, “Let’s get you out of that.”

  “Sweetheart, you don’t need to join me down here.”

  “I’m stronger than you’d think,” she replied. “It’s a job requirement to be able to wrestle with all sizes of animals. Come on.” She did succeed in helping him to his feet, only to shake her head in regret. “I really am sorry. You almost made it through the morning in good shape.”

  “Do you have about ten plastic garbage sacks that I can spread over my car seat? I sure can’t get into it like this.”

  She had no intention of letting him do that. “Aubergine will take one look at you and bolt the doors. We’ll hose off your things and you can shower in my RV while I throw your clothes in the clinic’s heavy-duty washer and dryer. You’ll be as good as new in a couple of hours.”

  He leaned over to right the wheelbarrow and Rylie stopped him. “I’ll get that. Go on and get those boots off by the RV door, then strip down to your shorts and leave everything on the concrete.”

  “My fantasy was that I talk you out of your clothes.” He cast her a wry look. “You’re sure? I can call Ramon to bring me something.”

  “No doubt the poor man has plenty enough to do before he gets to enjoy Sunday with his family.” She gave him a challenging look. “What’s the matter, Prescott, afraid I’ll come in for a free peek?”

  “If you don’t, I’ll be seriously disappointed.”

  His look sent Rylie’s pulse skipping as much as his invitation. As he headed for the RV, she drew a deep breath.

  So it’s come to this.

  She couldn’t have been more touched or grateful as he’d worked with her these past few hours. Never could she imagine the Noah Prescott she thought she knew several weeks ago doing all they’d done getting the pens and stables in shape and the animals fed. He’d not only been a good sport, but he’d teased her as much as she had him—and flirted twice as much. As she heard a whistle, she glanced over her shoulder and saw that he was still at it.

  He had his boots and socks off and his jacket and T-shirt. Smiling in invitation, he began a slow, provocative striptease as he unzipped his jeans.

  For a man who claimed he preferred a courtroom to ranch labor, he had an impressive body, broad shoulders and narrow waist and hips with enough muscle tone to make her fingers itch to explore every inch of him, as well as the soft nest of hair tapering down his chest and into his briefs. Then she saw that her staring was having a powerful an effect on him.

  “Get inside before you cause a wreck on the interstate,” she called to him.

  As he did that, Rylie finished cleaning up, and then went to deal with his boots and her own. She could actually feel her pulse growing stronger. She knew she was going to him in a few minutes, but in the meantime, she welcomed the anticipation. Once she had his clothes taken care of and in the washer, she turned to MG.

  “I’m going to get you a treat for being a good girl, and you can nap while the washer runs,” she told her beloved pet. MG would be fine while the machine was running, and if she woke before Rylie came back, there were dogs in the inside kennel to check on and keep her entertained.

  Done, she locked the back door and sat on the RV stairs to remove her boots and set them beside Noah’s clean ones. Stepping inside, she heard the shower water still running.

  Removing her windbreaker, she set it on the hook by the door and slipped off her socks on her way to the back. By the time she reached the bathroom, she had her T-shirt over her head and was working on her jeans.

  “Are you going to leave me any hot water?” she called to him.

  “Not unless you hurry.”

  Grinning, she barely got her jeans off before the door opened and he snatched her around the waist and lifted her inside.

  “You’re crazy!” She still had on her underwear, which became plastered to her skin within seconds.

  “No, starving,” he replied, as he claimed her mouth for a kiss that proved it.

  Rylie wrapped her arms around his neck and gave herself up to the moment. It was perfect. He was. Among the longing, the hot water pummeling them, her sensitized body and his hard and aroused one, she was instantly elevated to a new experience in pleasure.

  As Noah drank in her throaty moan, he rasped, “That’s sexy, and you take my breath away.”

  He’d begun caressing and exploring her only seconds into their first kiss, and before she knew it, he’d removed the last bits of her clothing, and what had been covered in silk was now being caressed by his lips and tongue. Rylie let her head fall back and lifted her face to the water as warm liquid transported her from above, and sensual man from below.

  Those hands she’d admired before deserved a new designation—lethal, she thought as he threatened to be her undoing. Wherever he caressed her, she kept being thrust to what she thought was her climax, only to be drawn back, and then flung close again. He discovered the same thing, as his fingers probed the ultrasensitive, sleek place between her legs.

  Unable to help moving against his hand, she groaned, “Oh, damn.”

  “Go ahead. Do you know what it does to me to know I can make you feel this way so quickly?”

  When he replaced his fingers with his mouth, she didn’t have a choice. His gifted touch shot her straight over the edge, dragging a sharp cry from her. Pleasure vibrated through her body in wave after wave, until she thought her legs would no longer hold her up. Seeming to sense that, Noah rose to clutch her tightly against him.

  His body hard with tension and desire, and his heart pounding like a runner’s, he rasped, “I have to get my billfold.”

  Remembering that it was way back on the dining table, she said, “Try the right-hand drawer of the vanity. There’s an unopened box.”

  “Unopened, huh?”

  There was no missing the satisfaction in his voice, or the adoration in his gaze, before he stepped out to get them.

  Once he was back, and quickly ripping the cellophane, she said, “Thank my brother. It was in his care package when he heard I was moving. Otherwise I wouldn’t have even thought about getting some. ‘To be kept within reach whenever around smooth-talking cowboys,’ is what his note said.”

  “Fooled him, didn’t I?” Noah drawled.

  “Oh, I don’t know,” she replied, loving the c
hance to finally explore his body as he had hers. “Haven Land is half ranch, and with this body, you can’t tell me you sit at a desk all day and night researching and prepping for your next trial.”

  Instead of denying or confessing, he grew serious as he framed her face with his hands. “Angel, I want you to know, I’ve never had unprotected sex.”

  “Neither have I,” she said, a bit sad that such things had to be discussed these days when every fiber in her being told her that she could trust him. “And I’m on the pill, in case you were worried about that side of things.”

  “My only concern is that I’m not going to get in that sleek, little body soon enough. God, Rylie,” he groaned, lifting her into his arms. “Come here.”

  Even as she wrapped her legs around his waist, he began the careful probing. He watched her face for any sign of discomfort.

  “Are you going to be my lover or my gynecologist?” she teased, bemused at his intent study of her every facial nuance.

  “Both this first time,” he said, his voice showing the strain his patience was costing him. “You’re tighter than this latex, but damn, you feel like heaven. Kiss me.”

  She did, and he continued to claim a place for himself inside her. She’d never felt safer, more cherished—or more feminine. Noah was introducing her to what adoration felt like, and she blossomed under his tutelage.

  “I think we’re running out of hot water,” she gasped, every breath laborious now.

  “It’s okay. I’m running out of endurance.” His voice was all strain, and his vise-tight embrace told her even more about how close he was to climaxing. “It’s your fault for feeling too damned good.”

  If she could have found her voice, she could have said the same about him. Human nature was strange that way. Anatomy was just that—bone, musculature, skin, nerve endings...but how incredible that when two certain people came together, the results could create such magic. Rylie was glad that it was happening with this man.